New Canterbury coach Dean Pay has ruled out signing departing Melbourne champion Cooper Cronk.
Queensland and Australia halfback Cronk is yet to reveal his NRL future ahead of moving to Sydney this off-season.
But his starring role in the Storm's grand final win over North Queensland on Sunday is set to up the ante for his signature if he decides against retirement.
Pay, who has stepped into his new role after replacing the sacked Des Hasler, praised Cronk when it was suggested the 33-year-old partner incoming playmaker Kieran Foran in the halves.
But the coach claimed his focus was on taking the current Bulldogs squad up the ladder and he was "not really" interested in Cronk.
"He'd be nice, too. They'd be a good halves pairing, that's for sure," Pay told Sky Sports Radio on Tuesday.
"(But) our roster's just about done, so we'll be moving forward with the roster we've got.
"We've got the foundations of a really good team here."
Pay revealed he had not yet spoken to Foran after being appointed last Thursday, with the ex-Warriors five-eighth recruited under Hasler's direction.
"I'm looking forward to meeting Kieran and getting his thoughts on what we need to do and how he wants to play," Pay said.
"We've just got to make sure we get him fit and healthy."
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